Well Release System and Method

ABSTRACT

An improvement to a prior art sand release apparatus and method uses a pair of telescoped tubular members. In the improved system and method, the telescoped members are prevented from completely telescoping by a J-hook latch. Also in the improved system and method, a wear resistant seal prevents leakage when the telescoped members are not extended.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to oil well pumps.

2. Description of the Related Art

A reciprocating pump is typically used to lift oil from a well in a lowpressure formation. The pump is normally placed inside a tubing stringand positioned in a production casing near the producing zone. Thecasing is sometimes perforated to allow a formation fluid, which isgenerally a mixture of oil, water, and sand, to flow from thesurrounding formation into the production casing. The tubing string isopen at the bottom to allow the formation fluid to enter. The top of thepump is attached to a string of sucker rods that extend to the surfacewhere they are connected to a walking beam mechanism.

The housing of the pump leaves a space between the outer surface of thepump and the inner surface of the tubing string. This annular spaceoften collects sand flowing in with the fluid mixture from the formationafter the liquid is pulled through the pump housing for delivery throughthe tubing string. The sand eventually settles around the lower portionof the pump housing and the connected tubing string. Sand also settlesout from the fluid over the pump. The sand build-up eventually impedesnormal pump operation. Further, the pump typically requires periodicmaintenance at the surface for its reciprocating parts, and even a smallof amount of sand around the pump can prevent the pump's removal exceptby pulling the entire tubing string, which requires lengthy andexpensive rig time.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,739 (hereinafter, the “Hall I Patent”) proposes apair of telescoping tubular members threaded into the pump above thepump's lower end where the sanding typically locks the pump. Thetelescoping members are prevented from telescoping by a shear pin. AnO-ring seated in an annular groove around the inner telescoping memberprevents leakage when the telescoping members are not extended. The HallI Patent proposes that if there is undue resistance when axially pullingthe pump from the surface, the shear pin will shear and allow thetelescoping members to extend, thereby exposing slotted openings thatallow the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid column above the sandcollected around the pump housing to wash the sand inward through theslots and out the bottom of the apparatus, often freeing the pump forfurther operation or removal.

While the apparatus proposed in the Hall I Patent may be successful infreeing the pump most of the time, on occasion the pump may still bestuck, requiring removal of the tubing string to retrieve it. U.S. Pat.No. 5,018,581 (hereinafter, the “Hall II Patent”) proposes improvementsto the Hall I Patent. The Hall II Patent proposes a second shear pinthat does not restrict the telescoping movement of the telescopingmembers. Rather, the second shear pin prevents rotational movement ofthe members with respect to each other. The Hall II Patent also proposesthat the upper end of the outermost telescoping member be attached to adouble male threaded coupling through the use of reverse or left handedthreads. If the pump is still locked after the flushing action hasoccurred, the Hall II Patent proposes that the sucker rods and pump berotated so as to unthread the left handed threaded connection betweenthe sand removal apparatus and the bottom of the pump, allowing the pumpto be separated from the apparatus and pulled to the surface with thesucker rods. The Hall II Patent also proposes three O-rings seated inrespective annular grooves around the inner telescoping member toprevent leakage when the telescoping members are not extended.

Whenever the shear pin that restricts the axial telescoping movementproposed in the Hall I Patent and the Hall II Patents is sheared, thesand removal apparatus must be retrieved from the well to replace theshear pin. Moreover, whenever the telescoping members are extended toexpose the slotted openings, the O-ring seals are exposed to theformation fluid at elevated underground temperatures and usually need tobe replaced. Further, whenever the outer telescoping member slides overthe O-rings, it may either weaken and/or damage the outer surfaces ofthe O-rings, or may cause the O-rings to become unseated from theirrespective grooves. Therefore, even in situations where the pump doesnot need to be serviced, if the sand release mechanism is extended torelease the sand, the sucker rods and pump must still be removed toreplace the shear pins and replace or reseat the O-rings.

The above discussed Hall I Patent and Hall II Patent are incorporatedherein by reference for all purposes in their entirety.

Formation fluid sometimes contains paraffin, which may create pumpingand flow problems. At elevated temperatures underground, such as below2000 feet (610 m), the paraffin may be liquid and flow easily. However,when the formation fluid moves toward the surface, it may cool enough sothat the paraffin solidifies in the tubing string and on and around thesucker rods. The solidified paraffin slows down the operation of thepump by restricting the movement of the sucker rods. In shallower wells,the paraffin deposits may build up over and around the pump itself.

A common method of paraffin removal is “hot oiling,” which may involvepumping hot oil down the annular space between the tubing and thecasing. The hot oil heats the tubing, sucker rods, and fluid inside thetubing, to melt the paraffin for production along with the well fluids.When utilizing the prior art sand release apparatus in wells that haveparaffin problems, the telescoping members may be extended by shearingthe shear pin to expose the drain slots. The hot oil may then be pumpeddown the tubing to liquefy the paraffin and wash it inward through theslots of the sand release apparatus and out the bottom of the apparatus,often freeing the pump for further operation or removal.

Many times it would be desirable to extend the telescoping members toflush the paraffin without removing the pump, since the pump may notneed servicing. However, whenever the prior art telescoping members areextended, the pump must be retrieved to the surface to replace the shearpins. Further, the O-rings are sometimes damaged by the elevatedtemperatures of the formation fluid and/or the hot oil when they areexposed from the telescoping action. In addition or alternatively, thesliding action of the outer telescoping member over the O-rings when thedrain slots are exposed may cause the O-rings to become unseated fromtheir respective annular grooves in the inner telescoping member, whichrequires the pump to be pulled to the surface to replace and/or reseatthem. Valuable rig time is spent pulling the sucker rods and pump out ofthe well to change the shear pins and the O-ring seals.

It would be desirable to extend the telescoping members of the prior artsand release apparatus without having to thereafter retrieve theapparatus from the well to replace the one or more shear pins. It wouldalso be desirable to extend the telescoping members of the prior artsand release apparatus without having to retrieve the apparatus from thewell to replace or adjust the one or more O-ring seals.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and method are provided to improve the prior art sand releaseapparatus. As in the prior art, a pair of telescoped tubular members maybe positioned with the lower end of the pump. In the improved system andmethod, the telescoped members are prevented from telescoping by aJ-hook latch. Also in the improved system and method, a wear resistantseal prevents leakage when the telescoped members are not extended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained with thefollowing detailed descriptions of the various disclosed embodiments inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational section view through a tubing string showingthe well release apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an elevational section view through a pump with an innertelescoping tubular member and an outer telescoping tubular member inthe unextended position and joined together by a J-hook latch in theclosed position, with a wear resistant seal positioned between the innerand outer telescoping members.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 except with the inner and outertelescoping tubular members in the extended position, the J-hook latchin the open position, the slot openings in the inner member exposed, andthe wear resistant seal exposed.

FIG. 4 is an elevational partial view of the lower portion of the innertelescoping member of FIGS. 2-3 with threaded end, wear resistant sealpositioned adjacent the threaded end, and J-hook latch receivingformation and slot opening.

FIG. 4A is a section view along line 4A-4A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B is an isometric view of the inner telescoping member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an elevational section view through a pump with alternativeembodiment inner telescoping tubular member and outer telescopingtubular member in the unextended position and joined together by aJ-hook latch in the closed position, with a wear resistant sealpositioned between the inner and outer telescoping members.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except with the inner and outertelescoping tubular members in the extended position, and the J-hooklatch in the open position with slot openings and wear resistant sealexposed.

FIG. 7 is an elevational partial view of the upper portion of the innertelescoping member of FIGS. 5-6 with a threaded end, wear resistant sealpositioned adjacent the threaded end, and J-hook latch receivingformation and slot opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, a pump 2 is anchored to a tubing string 1 with a pump holddown 3 resting on a shoulder 4 in the tubing string 1. The tubing string1 is positioned in a well. The upper portion of the pump 2 may beattached to a string of sucker rods (not shown) that extend to thesurface for connection with a walking beam mechanism (not shown). Thepresent invention is preferably positioned with the lower portion 6 of apre-existing pump or incorporated with a newly manufactured pump belowthe pump 2 and above the pump hold down 3.

Turning to FIG. 2, the lower portion 6 of the pump 2 is threaded to adouble male threaded upper coupling 7 which is in turn threaded to thewell release apparatus 5 of the present invention through the means ofleft handed or reverse threads 8. It is also contemplated that there maybe no upper coupling 7. The lower portion of apparatus 5 is threadedlyattached with threads 72 to a lower coupling 71. The lower coupling 71is threadedly attached with threads 30 to the upper portion 9 of thepump hold down 3 anchor. An outer telescoping tubular member 10 may bethreaded with threads 8 to coupling 7. The outer member 10 has an inwardshoulder 11. An inner telescoping tubular member 14 has an outward rim15 on one end to rest on the shoulder 11 to prevent the inner member 14from pulling through the outer member 10 when the telescoping actionoccurs as shown in FIG. 3. One or more longitudinal slots 17 may bepositioned around the inner member 14 with an adequate width to enablethe paraffin, sand, and/or other well debris laden mixture to flowthough slots 17 during the flushing procedure. It is also contemplatedthat there may be no slots 17, but only one or more slots 64. Further,it is contemplated that slots 17 may not have a longitudinal shape.Rather, slots 17 may be a set of circular or other shape openings largeenough to allow debris such as sand or liquefied paraffin to flowthrough them.

Outer member 10 may have one or more openings 60 to each receive a pin62. In the preferred embodiment, there may be two openings 60 each witha pin 62 positioned on opposite sides of outer member 10. The pin 62 maybe fabricated integral with outer member 10, or pin 62 may be attachedwith the opening 60 in outer member 10 such as by threads. It iscontemplated that one end of the pin 62 may be threaded into a prior artsand release apparatus, such as shown in the '581 patent, by replacingthe prior art shear pin that prevents telescoping action. One or more ofslots in inner member 14 may have a J-hook latch receiving formation,such as formation 66 in the slot 64. It is contemplated that theorientation of the J-hook latch receiving formation 66 may be reversedfrom that shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 4A and 4B. As shown in FIG. 2, the pin62 may rest in formation 66 when the J-hook latch is in the closedposition. Outer tubular member 10 covers slots (17, 64) when the J-hooklatch is in the closed position.

To move the outer and inner members (10, 14) from the unextendedposition shown in FIG. 2 to the telescoped or extended position shown inFIG. 3, the outer member 10 may be moved slightly axially downward, thenrotated and moved axially upward so that the pin 62 unlatches from theformation 66 and moves up the slot 64 until the pin 62 reaches the fullyopen or unlatched position shown in FIG. 3. It is contemplated thatvarious sizes, shapes, and dimensions may be used for the slot 64 andthe pin 62. It is contemplated that the formation 66 may not bespecifically J-shaped, but may be any other shape so as to retain pin 62when in the latched position as shown in FIG. 3. It is contemplated thatformation fluid including debris such as sand and paraffin may flowthrough slots (17, 64) when the well release apparatus 5 is extended asshown in FIG. 3. If the flushing action, such as “hot oiling” forparaffin removal, does not free the pump 2, then the pump 2 may beremoved by rotating the sucker rods and the pump 2 clockwise forunthreading the left handed threads 8. The pin 62 in either theformation 66 or the slot 64 prevents rotation between the inner member14 and the outer member 10 while threads 8 are unthreaded.

Lower surface 70 on the inner member 14 adjacent its threaded end isadapted to position wear resistant annular seal 68. Annular seal 68 ispreferably a POLYPAK™ seal available from Parker Hannifin Corp. ofCleveland, Ohio. Darcoid Nor-Cal Seal of Oakland, Calif. is adistributor of POLYPAK™ seals. It is contemplated that the seal 68 maybe precision molded combining an O-ring type O-spring with aconventional lip seal. However, other seals are contemplated. The seal68 may withstand repeated telescoping of the apparatus 5 without theneed for repair or replacement. Moreover, the seal 68 may withstandelevated temperatures as would be expected to occur in a well.

As can now be understood, the telescoping operation of the apparatus 5to expose the slots (17, 64) and drain the paraffin and other debris maybe accomplished without damage or disturbance to any component of theapparatus 5 that would require removal of the pump 2 or the apparatus 5to the surface. As can further be understood, the apparatus 5 may beincorporated into a newly manufactured pump, the apparatus 5 may beadded to a pre-existing pump, or apparatus 5 may be adapted to the priorart sand release apparatus shown in the Hall II Patent for positioningwith a pump. If manufactured new, the apparatus 5 may be integral withthe pump hold 3 down rather than threadedly attached with it. Thepresent invention contemplates that the slots 64 may be the same size asthe prior art drain slots, except with the addition of one or more ofthe prior art slots having a J-hook receiving formation, such as theformation 66. The prior art apparatus has one or more threaded openingsin the outer member through which shear pins are threadedly attached andinserted into corresponding openings in the inner member to prevent theaxial telescoping movement of the outer member and inner member. It iscontemplated that the shear pins may be removed and improvingly replacedwith the pins 62 that may be threadedly attached with the threadedopenings so that the pins 62 may then latch with the J-hook latchreceiving formations that may also be added to the prior art innertubular member.

The prior art apparatus may be further improved to eliminate the priorart O-rings and their respective grooves on the inner member and toreplace them with the wear resistant seal 68 of the present invention.As can now be understood, unlike the prior art sand apparatus, in whichthe shear pin is broken to telescope the outer member with the innermember, in the present invention the pin 62 is designed so that it willnot break during telescoping action. Rather the pin 62 facilitates thetelescoping action through movement of the pin 62 through the slot 64.It is contemplated that one or more pins 62 may be designed to withstandsignificantly more than 7000 pounds of force. In any event, theaggregate strength and cross section of the pins 62 is a design factorrelating to the axial pull necessary to remove the pump 2 with breakingthe pins 62. Further, unlike the prior art apparatus, in the which theO-rings are damaged an/or unseated from their respective grooves whenthe apparatus 5 is telescoped, in the present invention the seal 68 maywithstand repeated telescoping of the apparatus 5 without the need forrepair or replacement.

FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B show the lower portion of the inner tubular member 14of FIGS. 2-3. A seal 68 is positioned over a surface 70 on an innermember 14 above threads 72. A J-hook latch receiving formation 66 is atone end of the slot 64.

Turning to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment pump release apparatus 88of the present invention is shown. An outer telescoping tubular member40 is attached with a lower portion 20 of the pump. The outer tubularmember 40 has an inward shoulder 42. The inner telescoping tubularmember 30 has at one end an outward rim 32 to contact the shoulder 42 toprevent the inner member 30 from pulling through the outer member 40.One or more slots 38 may be positioned around the inner member 30 withan adequate width to enable the paraffin or sand laden mixture to flowthough the slots 38 during the flushing procedure. It is alsocontemplated that there may be no slots 38, but only one or more slots82. Further, it is contemplated that the slots 38 may not have alongitudinal shape. Rather, the slots 38 may be a set of circular orother shape openings large enough to allow debris such as sand orliquefied paraffin to flow through them. A tubular coupling 22 isattached with threads 24 to an upper portion 18 of the pump. Thecoupling 22 may be attached with threads 26 to the inner tubular member30.

The outer tubular member 40 has one or more threaded openings 44 to eachreceive a pin 48. In the preferred embodiment, there may be two pins 48positioned on opposite sides of the outer member 40. The pin 48 may befabricated integral with the outer member 40, or the pin 48 may beattached with the opening 44 in the outer member 40 such as by threads.It is contemplated that one end of the pin 48 may be threadedly attachedwith a prior art sand release apparatus, such as shown in the Hall IPatent, by replacing the prior art shear pin that prevents telescopingmovement. One or more of slots in inner member 30 may have a J-hookreceiving formation, such as the formation 80 in the slot 82. It iscontemplated that the orientation of the J-hook latch receivingformation 80 may be reversed from that shown in FIGS. 5-7. As shown inFIG. 5, the pin 48 may rest in the formation 80 when the J-hook latch isin the closed position. The outer tubular member 40 covers the slots(38, 82) when the J-hook latch is in the closed position.

To move the outer and inner members (40, 30) from the unextendedposition shown in FIG. 5 to the telescoped or extended position shown inFIG. 6, the outer member 22 may be moved slightly axially downward, thenrotated and moved axially upward so that the pin 48 unlatches from theformation 80 and moves down the slot 82 until the pin 48 reaches thefully open or unlatched position shown in FIG. 6. It is contemplatedthat various sizes, shapes, and dimensions may be used for the slot 82and the pin 48. It is contemplated that the formation 80 may not beJ-shaped, but may be any other shape so as to retain the pin 48 when itis in the latched position as shown in FIG. 6. It is contemplated thatthe formation fluid may flow through the slots (38, 82) when theapparatus is extended.

The upper surface on inner member 30 adjacent to threads 26 is adaptedto position a wear resistant annular seal 86. The wear resistant seal 86is preferably a POLYPAK™ seal available from Parker Hannifin Corp. ofCleveland, Ohio. Darcoid Nor-Cal Seal of Oakland, Calif. is adistributor of POLYPAK™ seals. It is contemplated that the seal may beprecision molded combining an O-ring type O-spring with a conventionallip seal. However, other seals are contemplated. The seal 86 maywithstand repeated telescoping of the apparatus without the need forrepair or replacement. Moreover, the seal 86 may withstand elevatedtemperatures as would be expected to occur in a well.

As can now be understood, the telescoping operation of the apparatus 88to expose the slots (38, 82) and drain the paraffin and other debris maybe accomplished without damage or disturbance to any component of theapparatus 88 that may require removal of the apparatus 88 to thesurface. As can further be understood, the apparatus 88 may beincorporated into a newly manufactured pump, the apparatus 88 may beadded to a pre-existing pump, or the apparatus 88 may be adapted to theprior art sand release apparatus shown in the Hall I Patent forpositioning with a pump. The present invention contemplates that theslots 82 may be the same size as the prior art drain slots, except withthe addition of one or more of the prior art slots being improved tohave a J-hook receiving formation, such as the formation 80. The shearpins in the prior art apparatus are threaded through threaded openingsin the outer telescoping member and positioned through openings in theinner member to prevent the axial telescoping movement of the outermember and inner member. It is contemplated that the prior art shear pinmay be improvingly replaced with the pin 48, which may be threadedlyattached with the prior art threaded opening and positioned with aJ-hook receiving formation that has been adapted to the prior art innertelescoping tubular member.

The prior art apparatus may be further improved to eliminate the priorart O-rings and to replace them with the wear resistant seal 86 of thepresent invention. As can now be understood, unlike the prior art sandapparatus, in which the shear pin is broken to telescope the outermember with the inner member, in the present invention the pin 48 isdesigned so that it will not break. Further, unlike the prior artapparatus, in the which the O-rings are either damaged or unseated fromtheir respective grooves in the inner member when the apparatus istelescoped, in the present invention wear resistant seal 86 maywithstand repeated telescoping of the apparatus 88 without the need forrepair or replacement.

Turning to FIG. 7, it shows the upper portion of the inner telescopingtubular member 30 of FIGS. 5-6. A seal 86 is positioned on an innermember 30 below threads 26. A receiving formation 80 is at one end of aslot 82.

It is contemplated that the well release apparatus (5, 88) maypreferably be fabricated from AISI 4130 alloy steel. It is understoodthat such steel contains molybdenum and chromium as strengthening agentswith relatively low carbon content. However, other steels, metals, andnon-metals are also contemplated.

Method of Use

As shown in FIGS. 2-3 for one embodiment, and FIGS. 5-6 for analternative embodiment, the well release apparatus (5, 88) may betelescoped without removal of the pump to allow sand, paraffin or otherdebris to flow through the exposed slots (17, 64, 38, 82). The wellrelease apparatus (5, 88) is in the unextended or closed position fornormal pumping operations as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 for the alternativeembodiments in which slots (17, 64, 38, 82) are covered by the outermember (10, 40). If the pump needs to be removed for maintenance, thenthe apparatus (5, 88) may be left in the latched or closed position andit may be removed with the pump. If paraffin, sand, or other debrisbuild-up occurs around the pump that impedes either removal of the pumpor normal pumping operations, then the well release apparatus (5, 88)may be moved to the extended or open position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6for the alternative embodiments by moving the sucker rods and pumpslightly axially downward, then rotating and pulling axially upward.

Hydrostatic pressure of the fluid column above the apparatus (5, 88) orformation pressure may move the debris inward through the exposed slots(17, 64, 38, 82), or fluid from the surface, such as by “hot oiling” forparaffin removal, may be used to move the debris through the exposedslots (17, 64, 38, 82). When the flushing process is completed, theapparatus (5, 88) may be moved back to the latched or closed position byreversing the movement used to open the latch. Normal pumping operationsmay thereafter continue. There are no shear pins or O-rings to replaceor adjust. For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-3, if the flushing actiondoes not free the pump 2, then the pump may be removed by rotating thesucker rods and the pump 2 clockwise for unthreading the left handedthreads 8. The pin 62 in the latching formation 66 or the slot 64 mayprevent rotation of the telescoping members (10, 14) while the threads 8are unthreaded.

It is contemplated that whenever threaded connections are shown in anyof the embodiments of the present invention, other attachment means asare understood in the art may be used as well. It is also contemplatedthat the components shown threadedly attached may be joined together orformed integrally by omission of the threads.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the detailsof the illustrated apparatus and system, and the construction and themethod of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1. A well release apparatus, comprising: an outer telescoping tubularmember having an inward pin; and an inner telescoping tubular memberthat can be positioned within said outer telescoping tubular member,said inner telescoping tubular member having a longitudinal slot with aJ-hook latch receiving formation, wherein said pin is positioned in saidslot.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pin is removablyattached with said outer tubular member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said slot is covered by said outer tubular member when said pinis positioned in said J-hook latch receiving formation.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said inner tubular member having two ends andcomprising a thread adjacent to the first end.
 5. The apparatus of claim4, wherein a wear resistant annular seal is positioned adjacent to saidthread on said inner tubular member for sealing with said outer tubularmember when said pin is positioned in said J-hook latch receivingformation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said wear resistantannular seal is a POLYPAK seal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinsaid inner tubular member having a outward rim at the second end.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein said outer tubular member having an inwardshoulder for positioning with said inner member rim.
 9. A system foroperating a well, comprising: a well; a tubing string positioned in saidwell; a pump having an upper end and a lower end positioned in saidtubing string; a sucker rod positioned with the upper end of said pump;and a well release apparatus positioned with the lower end of said pump,wherein said well release apparatus comprising: an outer telescopingtubular member having an inward pin; and an inner telescoping tubularmember that can be positioned within said outer telescoping tubularmember, said inner telescoping tubular member having a longitudinal slotwith a J-hook latch receiving formation, wherein said pin is positionedin said slot.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said pin is removablyattached with said outer tubular member.
 11. The system of claim 9,wherein said slot is covered by said outer member when said pin ispositioned in said J-hook latch receiving formation.
 12. The system ofclaim 9, wherein said inner tubular member having two ends andcomprising a thread adjacent to the first end.
 13. The system of claim12, wherein a wear resistant annular seal is positioned adjacent to saidthread on said inner tubular member for sealing with said outer tubularmember when said pin is positioned in said J-hook latch receivingformation.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said wear resistantannular seal is a POLYPAK seal.
 15. A method for operating a well,comprising the steps of: providing a well having formation fluid;providing a tubing string positioned in said well; providing a pumphaving an upper end and a lower end positioned in said tubing string;providing a sucker rod positioned with the upper end of said pump; andproviding a well release apparatus positioned with the lower end of saidpump, wherein said well release apparatus comprising: an outertelescoping tubular member having an inward pin; and an innertelescoping tubular member that can be positioned within said outertelescoping tubular member, said inner telescoping tubular member havinga longitudinal slot with a J-hook latch receiving formation, whereinsaid pin is positioned in said slot; and positioning said outer tubularmember pin in said inner tubular member J-hook latch receiving formationso that said slot is covered by said outer tubular member.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising the step of: moving formationfluid with the pump through the tubing string.
 17. The method of claim15, further comprising the step of: moving said outer tubular member pinfrom said inner tubular member J-hook latch receiving formation.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising the step of: uncovering said slotwith said outer tubular member.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising the step of: moving fluid downward through the well andthrough said slot.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising thestep of: positioning said outer tubular member pin in said inner tubularmember J-hook latch receiving formation to cover said slot with saidouter tubular member after the step of moving said outer tubular memberpin from said inner tubular member J-hook latch receiving formation. 21.A method for removing sand from a well, comprising the steps of:positioning in the well, an inner tubular member that is positionedwithin an outer tubular member, said outer tubular member having a pinthat engages a receiving formation of a J-shaped longitudinal slot ofthe inner tubular member; lowering and rotating the inner tubular memberto release the inner tubular member from the receiving formation of theJ-shaped longitudinal slot; and longitudinally raising the inner tubularmember along the longitudinal slot to allow sand from the inner tubularmember to be released from the inner tubular member.
 22. The method ofclaim 21 wherein said inner tubular member having two ends andcomprising a thread adjacent to the first end and a wear resistantannular seal is positioned adjacent to said thread on said inner tubularmember for sealing with said outer tubular member when said pin ispositioned in said J-hook latch receiving formation.